Click to viewIf you've ever used a virtual desktop application to manage multiple desktops, you know what a boon virtual desktops can be for organization and productivity at your computer.

Today I'm going to walk through the previously mentioned virtual desktop manager, Dexpot, and highlight the features that make it the best, most feature-rich virtual desktop manager for Windows I've seen. I'll also detail a few of the finer points of using virtual desktops to enhance your productivity. Click through to the gallery for a run-down of my favorite Dexpot features.

Compartmentalizing your desktops can work wonders towards retaining focus on specific tasks while making much better use of your desktop space. I generally go with a 4-desktop arrangement. My browsing desktop keeps my Firefox windows under control; my email desktop is an email-only zone (which I found to be very important, since it can be easy to get distracted from plowing through the Lifehacker inbox); I keep a code-only desktop specifically for working on coding/scripting; and my main desktop handles general/miscellaneous activity that doesn't fall into the other 3. By default, Dexpot lets me switch from desktop to desktop with a simple keyboard shortcut - either Windows Key-Left or Right (this is configurable in the control settings).

Part of the reason that virtual desktops work so well for me is that I'm a bit of a virtual pack rat. If I can help it, I don't like closing down a Notepad++ window and Explorer directory I'm working out of because next time I want to work on it, I'm going to have to set up my work environment again. The same is true of my day-to-day posting at Lifehacker. If I'm working without virtual desktops, that means a lot of clutter and distraction. Virtual desktops cleans all of that up into nicely organized desktops.

Aside from all of the great features I covered in the gallery, Dexpot also adds a lot of smaller window functions, like transparency, always-on-top, and the ability to minimize applications to the system tray.

There are a lot of other virtual desktop applications out there for Windows, but Dexpot appears to be the most feature-rich that I've seen. Other options include Virtual Dimension, DM2, and Virtual Desktop Manager (Mac users should check out VirtueDesktops). If you're a fan of virtual desktops, let us know what you use and how you use it in the comments. — Adam Pash